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Mar. 3, 2011
Assistant director Frank Shap, Garrett County Department of Economic Development, presented an update report to the county commissioners on Tuesday about the status of a statewide Internet broadband initiative.
As part of the federal economic stimulus program, Shap said, Maryland recently received $115 million to create a "fiber backbone" throughout the state, from the lower Eastern Shore to Oakland. The state will match that grant with about $40 million of its own money.
A fiber optic route is to be developed through each county and the city of Baltimore. Qualified Internet service providers will be able to connect to the routes and extend coverage to customers and the "critical community facilities" in the various counties. These facilities, Shap explained, are typically schools, health departments, governments, colleges, and public safety offices.
Locally, a fiber optic line already runs from along I-68 from Frostburg to Friendsville and is currently available only for public users. That line, however, will soon be accessible to private users. In addition, splice points at Grantsville, Keyser's Ridge, and Friendsville will enable broadband service to extend to other portions of the county.
"The state will construct approximately 50 miles of fiber in the county, starting at Keyser's Ridge and going down Rt. 219 to McHenry, through the Deep Creek Lake area, and through Oakland," Shap said.
From Oakland the proposed line will follow Rt. 135 through Mtn. Lake Park and into Allegany County.
Also proposed are lines running off the loop to the McHenry Business Park, along Memorial Drive in Oakland to Southern Middle and Broad Ford elementary schools, and along Rt. 39 out of Oakland to Crellin. Friendsville will receive service via the I-68 line.
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